Birch Tree Stand Structure by Diameter in the Coastal Belt of the White Sea. P. 195–204

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630*11

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2026-5-195-204

Abstract

The paper presents the results of studying the structure patterns of birch forest stands growing in the coastal belt of the White Sea within the breast height. The research aims to assess the structure of birch stands (by trunk diameter and trunk shape variability) that develop under harsh climatic conditions: low temperatures and strong wind loads. Trunk curvature is observed primarily in the butt end and requires adjustments when determining the location of the breast height. Eleven sample plots were laid out following standard procedures and considering the specific features of the tree stands in various forest types. The sites are located in protective forests, and no silvicultural activities have been carried out there. The diameters and heights of all birch trees and trees of other species have been measured. Diameters were measured in two mutually perpendicular directions (N–S and W–E) at a height (or length, in cases where the lower part of the trunk is severely curved) of 1.3 m from the root collar. A trunk curvature coefficient was determined for each birch tree with a visually discernible trunk curvature. The sample populations have been tested for normality. Sample skewness and the reliability level have been taken into account. The study found that the studied forest ecosystems are stable, long-term developing systems that serve as a protective barrier for the mainland’s forests against northern winds. We observed ongoing differentiation of birch tree trunks and stand formation as a result of intraspecific and interspecific competition. We obtained tree diameter distribution series and models of these distributions. A left-skewed tree diameter distribution relative to the normal distribution was observed. Studying the features of the structuring and growth of birch stands along the White Sea coastline will enable the development of recommendations for improving sustainable forest management and refining inventory standards.

Funding: The article presents the results of research and development work carried out within the framework of a government-funded project assigned to the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Northern Research Institute of Forestry” for applied scientific research in the field of the Federal Forestry Agency (project registration No. 123022800118–4).

Authors

Sergey V. Koptev^1,2*, Doctor of Agriculture, Assoc. Prof., Chief Research Scientist; ResearcherID: ABD-5497-2021, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5402-1953
Sergey V. Tretyakov^1,2, Doctor of Agriculture, Prof., Chief Research Scientist; ResearcherID: AAE-3861-2021, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5982-3114
Alexander P. Bogdanov², Candidate of Agriculture, Senior Research Scientist; ResearcherID: ABH-9399-2020, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1655-7212
Vitaliy A. Golyshev¹, Assoc. Prof.; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0512-055X

Affiliation

¹Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov, Arkhangelsk, Russia; s.koptev@narfu.ru*, s.v.tretyakov@narfu.ru, v.golyshev@narfu.ru
²Northern Research Institute of Forestry, Arkhangelsk, Russia; s.koptev@narfu.ru*, s.v.tretyakov@narfu.ru, aleksandr_bogd@mail.ru

Keywords

birch forest stands, birch krummholz, wind loads, wind loads imposed on a stand, diameter structure, distribution series, diameter distribution models, White Sea

For citation

Koptev S.V., Tretyakov S.V., Bogdanov A.P., Golyshev V.A. Birch Tree Stand Structure by Diameter in the Coastal Belt of the White Sea. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2026, no. 5, pp. 195–204. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2026-5-195-204

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